I used to dread my work trips. I'd get up in the dark at some unreasonable hour, travel to Melbourne, go out to the client site, install the program, train the users, catch a late flight home to Sydney and arrive home and collapse exhausted into bed. It's a very long day when you're getting up at 5.30am and not getting home until 9.00pm. However, it's a different story now. I get to spend a few days in Melbourne so it's a paid-for mini-break. I also have someone cool to hang with and I get to visit all the trendy, hip spots that you only know about if you live in Melbourne.

Last week I was back in Melbourne for a couple of days and once again I managed to dine with the very lovely Michelle. I had previously warned Michelle that I was expecting her to drop everything and come out with me everytime I was down south. When Michelle accepted the offer of dinner, the poor girl didn't realise she was going to have cope with two Daleys! Patrick was also in town so he tagged along.

We dined at Chocolate Buddha @ Federation square; it's a very funky restaurant with a very funky website. I was slightly bemused when they noted the dish number of our order on our placemats (which also doubled as menus). I'm a bit behind the times; apparently it's what they do at all the trendy noodley restaurants (see wagamama).

After dinner we trammed it a couple of blocks up to Max Brenner at QV Square. Yes, we could have walked but it was Paddy's first visit to Melbourne and he was taking every opportunity to ride the trams. At Max Brenner's, we chose to have the trademark Suckao hot chocolate (when I made the order I asked for "three of those doobie-things". The guy at the counter didn't understand my request. I thought I was being pretty clear!) The Suckao pots arrive with hot frothy milk and a small plate of chocolate buds. Drop the chocolate buds into the milk, and the small candle underneath the cup will melt the chocolate. Using the metal spoon stir the melted chocolate into the milk. The spoon is also a straw, use it to slurp up the chocolatey goodness. The great thing is you can add chocolate to taste e.g. dump the whole plate of chocolate buds in at once! It was my first visit to Max Brenner and as a confirmed chocaholic, I was impressed! I'll definitely be visiting the Max Brenner store in Paddington.

Our final stop for the evening was Chloe's bar @ Young and Jackson. Chloe's is named after the nude portrait of Chloe that is prominently displayed on the wall of the bar. Apparently Chloe's is one of Melbourne's popular tourist destinations. After my many trips to Melbourne, I'm ashamed to admit it was my first visit to the bar. (photos)

Note: Michelle took my advice and started a blog too. She's been patiently waiting for me to get the photos up from my Melbourne trip so she can write about our wonderful adventures in her blog!

Last week I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to travel to Melbourne for work. My new work product takes two days to install and three days to train on, so it meant I had the chance to pretend to be a Mexican for a whole week. It was perfect actually, I got a taste of living in Melbourne but I wasn't away long enough to miss my boy (well, miss him too much).

Of course, there are certain obvious differences between Melbournians and Sydneysiders. Before I went, I did some research so I could successfully play the part of a Melbournian. Some tips to fitting in in ultra-cool Melbourne:

• Trams -- while in Melbourne I caught a tram to and from work everyday. My source suggested that I buy a weekly tram ticket. So, I walked into a newsagent, listened to what the guy in front of me in the line asked for, and repeated that. Luckily he wanted a weekly tram ticket; I might have been in trouble if he had asked for a lottery ticket (or maybe a million dollars richer). To blend in with the other Melbournian tram passengers, do not validate your ticket when you get on the tram. Actually, if you really want to fit in, don't buy a ticket at all! One morning, a group of ticket inspectors got on my tram, a bunch of people suddenly decided it was their stop. Oh, one more thing... you might stick out as a non-Melbournian if you giggle every time the tram driver gets out to change the tracks so we can turn a corner (how quaint!)
  
  
• Walk, don't run -- in Sydney, everything seems to be a race. Rush, rush, rush...get out of my way! Not so in Melbourne; just stroll casually to your next destination, you have all the time in the world. Sometimes, I would forget myself. I raced along South Bank; dodging the crowds, picking the gaps. Feeling triumphant when I reached Crown Casino, I suddenly realised the Melbournians didn't care...repeat after me, it's not a competition!
  
  
• St Kilda, yuppie city -- St Kilda reminds me a little bit of Newtown. Once a haven for the alternative scene, now the domain of yuppies. I think I may have revealed my tourist colours on Acland Street. I spent a long time standing outside the cake shop, drooling at the cake porn in the shop window. It was a beautiful, balmy evening when I visited St Kilda and all the restaurants were packed. I dined on noodles in the park opposite Luna Park. Well, I did this until I was driven mad by flies and retreated to a park bench on Acland St. What is it with flies in January in Victoria? We had the same problem last year at the Great Ocean Road.
  
  

fresh buttter!	perfect end to a meal	they have popcorn in their vending machines...lucky!	fitness first bag in Melbourne. Are they worth more points?

Our recent holiday week at Blackhead was almost an exact repeat of our last holiday at Blackhead. On the way up we got stuck in traffic at Karuah, we played the car games Tractor! and 20 Questions, we touched the rock at the end of the beach (you haven't officially been to Blackhead until you have), we saw dolphins frolicking in the surf, I read girly novels while lounging on the beach, Andrew played golf (well, drank beer and hit a white ball occasionally) and we both squeezed in a nap on everyday of our holiday. Consistency is relaxing! (photos)

We did have one unusual experience while we were away. On one of our early morning walks we got stuck in a hail storm. A bright sunny day turned horrible... the temperature dropped, the wind picked up, the rain poured down and eventually turned into hail. We were stuck up the other end of the beach and had to trudge back through the downpour, enduring the bombardment of hail with only a frisbee for protection. I had to walk through the surf as the layer of hail on the beach was too icy for my bare feet. It was an adventure!

The sleek geeks had yet another mini-break last weekend. This time we headed North for a couple of days of sun (luckily!), sand and surf. I think our break could be officially classified as the "bad for my diet" weekend. (photos)

Friday Dinner: It started with steak and cocktails on Friday evening at Ribs and Rumps Steak & Grill @ Gordon. While we opted for normal sized meals, we were startled to see the size of the meals being delivered to other tables. Plate sized steaks floated past, always accompanied by a exclamation from our table.. "did you see the size of that!!!". I'm surprised they don't have a "live cow" option on the menu (Bring me a live cow over to the table. I'll carve off what I want and ride the rest home!) Saturday Breakfast: sustain with light milk and a English muffin with jam (not too bad, jess! keep up the good work!) Lunch: a carpet picnic - ham, avocado, tomato, cheese sandwiches, and prawns (another gold star.) Sarah was extremely concerned with getting all the poo out of each prawn. Apparently Canadian prawns don't have poo veins Afternoon tea: Frangelico and lime, hot chips and Cold Rock icecream (oh no!). I finally got a chance to try Cold Rock. They take a scoop of icecream, place it on a cold grill, and then mix in some toppings for you. Sue aptly described it as a "manual McFlurry". I had caramel icecream with a snickers mixed in, yum! Dinner: cocktails, pizza, more pizza, alcohol, more alcohol (danger! danger! will robinson!). The Bartender at the Break Bar valiantly tried to mix Kiwi and Lychee Caipiroskas for the Cocktail junkies. Although, they weren't up to Pyrmont Point standards, we applaud him for his efforts (hurrah!). Sunday Brekkie: eggs, bacon, mushrooms and pancakes. Yes, it was time to give into the cravings. In return, I promised not to eat for a whole week to atone for the weekend's sins. Exercise shopping, very strenuous; frisbee and Canadian football on the beach; reading, I read two whole books, turning those pages is hard work! Walking up and down the hill from the house to the beach and shops. We did this four or five times and it was a very steep hill!

We figured we should do our duty as friendly Aussies and show the tourists, Sarah and Duncan, some highlights of our wonderful country. We decided a trip to the Blue Mountains was in order so we picked a date and then we made them organise it (*ooops* sorry guys!). Our mini-break finally happened on the weekend and we had a great time.

We managed to fit in:

• Dinner and T2 on Friday night - after a hard week's work we were all exhausted and just wanted to veg on the couch and watch TV. While watching Terminator 2 we amused ourselves by adding "if you want to live" to the end of all of Arnie's lines... "my mission is to protect you... if you want to live" and so on. Well, we found it amusing *g*
  
  
• a long walk on Saturday - our planned route, the Giant Stairway, was closed due to a landslide so we had to take an alternative route, down the Furber Steps. We walked down to the Three Sisters, back up, along the cliff top walk and then down the Furber steps. By the time we reached the bottom my thighs and calves were killing me! We took the Scenic Railway back up to the top and it is still as exciting as it was when I was 12.
  
  
• Christmas in July...um August - on Saturday evening we had a huge dinner of Lamb Roast, twice baked potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, corn, carrots, broccoli, gravy and mint sauce. Dessert was custard and fruit salad. I think we over-catered slightly. We also played Scene It, a game I got for my birthday. It was great fun but some of the questions were very tough.
  
  

And to top off a great weekend, Andrew and I picked up some pies for lunch from Leura on the way home. (photos)